We use our hands for countless tasks every single day, so if a problem develops in one of your hands that causes pain or decreased function, it’s going to make daily life uncomfortable. Thankfully, a variety of hand injuries respond very well to a combination of physical therapy techniques. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the ways that physical therapists can help you overcome acute or chronic hand injuries.
PT For Hand Injuries
Physical therapists can help you overcome a broad range of hand injuries using a variety of techniques. Whether you’re recovering from surgery after a crush injury or simply fighting back against arthritis progression in the wrist, the team at OrthoRehab Specialists can assist. Here’s a number of techniques we use to help improve hand function.
- Exercise And Strength Training – One of the most common techniques we use is through the implementation of exercises that aim to strengthen muscles and tissues in and around the hand area. When these structures are stronger, they can better handle the stress you’re throwing at them. We’ll set you up with a simple strength training routine that you can perform in our office and from the comfort of your home.
- Swelling Management – If you are dealing with swelling after surgery, an acute injury or an issue with your lymphatic system, we can help. Exercises can help to increase fluid movement in and out of the area, as can manual therapy techniques (where the physical therapist manually maneuvers your hand in specific ways). Taping or bracing can also help to control swelling.
- Range Of Motion Improvements – Joint degeneration can decrease your functional range of motion, but guided exercises and stretching techniques can slowly help you regain flexibility in your wrists.
- Scar Management – If you are dealing with a scar following hand or finger surgery, our team can help provide some scar management. Simple movements can help to prevent the formation of scar tissue that can impede function, while massage therapy can also prove helpful.
- Pain Management – A number of the techniques listed above will also prove helpful in providing pain relief, but we have other ways to assist with this as well. For example, we can use a technique known as therapeutic ultrasound to help decrease pain in specific areas of your hand. Unlike diagnostic ultrasound that might be used to visualize a child in the womb, therapeutic ultrasound uses soundwaves to provide targeted heat to specific soft tissues in the hand and wrist, which can help increase circulation and expedite the healing process, aiding in pain control.
- Fine Motor Management – Sometimes it’s not about brute strength, it’s about fine motor skill. You may be able to get that pickle jar lid off no problem, but can you write your name clearly or easily tie your shoes? If your fine motor skills are lacking, a physical therapist can develop some techniques to improve your dexterity and coordination to assist with these more precise motions.
So if you are dealing with an acute hand injury, or if pain has slowly made hand motions more uncomfortable, reach out to the talented team of physical therapists at OrthoRehab Specialists to get set up with a treatment plan that’s right for you. For more information, or for help with your hand issues, give our team a call today at (952) 922-0330.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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